LAUSR

Objectives: Previous study identified ZIP12 as a major regulator of hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), however, it remains to determine the role of ZIP12 in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH. Methods: PAH was induced by intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline (40 mg/kg). The rats were sacrificed on week 4 of MCT injection. then, rat Lungs and corresponding pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were isolated. ZIP12 expression in rat lungs and PASMCs were determined by qPCR and western blot. Intracellular zinc in PASMC was measured by fluozine-3. Results: The mRNA expression of ZIP12 in PAH rat lung induced by MCT was significantly increased (Fig.1A), this result was also shown in corresponding PASMCs (Fig.1B). Moreover, the increase in ZIP12 expression was observed in PASMCs isolated from the PAH rats on the protein level (Fig.1C), along with elevated intracellular free zinc (Fig.1D). Conclusion: The expression of ZIP12 was significantly elevated and may play an important role in MCT-induced PAH.